Packaging machine



July 23, 1968 Y PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1964 INVENTOR .EE/W/flM/IV 21/3) ATTORNEYS July 23, 1968 B. DU BY 3,393,494

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR .BE'A/l/flMl/V .Duay

ATTORNEYS LE 9 m 3 Nw S July 23, 1968 B. DUBY PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 25 Filed Aug. 26, 1964 Y B WW%W%J ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,393,494 PACKAGING MACHINE Benjamin Duby, New York, N.Y., assiguor to H. Wolff Book Manufacturing Co. Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 392,085 14 Claims. (Cl. 53209) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packaging machine for enclosing individual articles in preformed wrappers having separate magazines containing vertical stacks of the articles and the wrappers; said magazines being adjustable to accommodate articles and wrappers of varying sizes and shapes and being positioned relative to each other and a conveyor so that articles are individually removed from the article magazine by movement of the conveyor with the removed article being utilized to effect removal of an individual wrapper from the wrapper magazine and to place the wrapper on the article in position for subsequent closure of the wrapper :by folding and sealing devices upon continued movement of the combined article and wrapper under the influence of a second conveyor.

The present invention relates to a packaging machine and it relates, more particularly, to a machine for packaging books in a shipping wrapper suitable for mailing or other purposes.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine for packaging a book or similar article in a preformed wrapper suitable for shipment through the mails and the like. A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for packaging 'books or similar articles in preformed wrappers which are readily adaptable to package books or other articles of various sizes and thicknesses in mailing or shipping wrappers of appropriate size.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for packaging books or similar articles in a preformed wrapper of a simplified construction and which is substantially automatic and foolproof in its operation. In a machine embodying the invention, means are provided for storing a supply of books in position for delivery of the 'books individually to the packaging mechanism and means are also provided for storing a corresponding supply of preformed wrappers for delivery of the wrappers individually to the respective books in a manner which insures that the book and wrapper are in proper position relative to each other for closure and sealing of the wrapper to form a finished package which is ready for mailing or other shipment without further processing. Delivery and positioning of the wrappers relative to the books is effected by movement of the book itself or other article to be packaged relative to the wrapper and the possibility of wrappers being closed and sealed without an article being enclosed therein is eliminated. The accurate positioning of the book and wrapper relative to each other also minimizes the possibility of damage to the book in the packaging operation.

Books or other items of various sizes and thicknesses can be packaged by minor adjustments in the machine which can be quickly made. Thus, a packaging machine embodying the invention can be adapted to the packaging of a wide variety of items of different sizes and shapes.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and will 'be better understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. -1 is a perspective view, as seen from beneath, of a book and a preformed shipping wrapper for the book prior to the book and wrapper being assembled as a package;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view in perspective illustrating various steps performed by a mec-hine embodying the invention in the assembly of the book and wrapper shown in FIG. 1 as a pack-aged unit;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 of an assembled or packaged unit of a book and wrap P FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 44 of the packaged unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are plan views of adjoining length wise sections of a packaging machine embodying the invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are front elevational views of the adjoining lengthwise sections of the packaging machine illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B;

FIG. 7 is -a fragmentary view in section taken along line 77 of FIG. 5A with certain parts being broken away for clarity and 'being drawn to a somewhat larger scale than FIG. 5A;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in section taken along line 88 of FIG, 5A and is drawn on a somewhat larger scale than FIG. 5A;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in section taken along line 99 of FIG. 5A and is drawn to a somewhat larger scale than FIG. 5A;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in section taken along line 1010 of 'FIG. 5A and drawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 1 1 is a fragmentary view in section taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 5B drawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 12 is a section view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a section view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 5B drawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 14 is a section view taken along line 1414 of FIG. 5B drawn to a larger scale; and

FIG. 15 is a section view taken along line 1515 of FIG. 5B drawn to a larger scale.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a book 20 which is to be packaged inside of a preformed wrapper 21 of corrugated paperboard or other suitable material. The wrapper is formed with central or top panel 22 correpsonding in size and shape to the book and forms the top of the package having side folds forming sides or gussets 23 which correspond to the thickness of the book with bottom flaps 24 attached thereto which are to be folded beneath the book with their edges joining to form the bottom of the package.

At opposite ends of the wrapper, protective bumpers 2'5 and 26 extend across the width of the central panel and the bottom flaps, respectively, of the wrapper. The bumpers may be formed by one or more folds of the material from which the wrapper is formed. When the wrapper is folded into closed condition, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer faces of the bumpers are in opposing relation with the combined thickness of the opposing bumpers being approximately equal to the thickness of the book and the bumpers form protective end closures for the package.

As illustrated schematically in FIG. 2, a book is delivered to a conveyor (not shown in FIG. 2) and is advanced by the conveyor through engagement of lugs 27 on the conveyor with the rear end of the book. As the book advances, its forward or leading end passes beneath the rear or trailing end of a preformed wrapper which is supported in an inclined position above the conveyor with the end bumpers thereon facing downwardly and with the bumper at the forward end of the wrapper being in the path of the book being moved forward by the conveyor.

Forward movement of the book brings the leading end of the book into engagement with the rear edge of the bumper at the forward end of the wrapper and the book carries the wrapper with it as its movement continues. The wrapper then falls in place on the book with the book being properly positioned between the bumpers at the ends of the central panel and in alignment with the central panel of the wrapper. This permits the wrapper to be folded to bring the bottom flaps to their closed position without interference from the book or damage to the book.

A book must be present in order for a wrapper to be picked up and advanced. Thus, an empty wrapper will not be inadvertently completed into closed packages. In addition, mechanisms for feeding and positioning the wrappers in proper relation to the books are not required as the books themselves perform this function.

When the wrapper has dropped in place on the book, forward movement of the book and wrapper is then effected by means of a second set of downwardly extending lugs 28 on a second conveyor (not shown in FIG. 2) which are positioned above the wrapper and book and which engage with the rear or trailing end of the wrapper. The forward edge of the rear bumper on the central panel of the wrapper then engages with the trailing end of the book while the first set of conveyor lugs is withdrawn from engagement therewith and the wrapper and the book are advanced as a unit by the second set of lugs for the folding of the cover.

If desired, a label 29 may be applied by a suitable label applying device of the type customarily used to the outer surface of the top or central panel of the wrapper.

The folding of the wrapper is accomplished by advancing the wrapper and the book while they are supported as a unit relative to a set of folding bars 30. The folding bars are of conventional construction. The rear ends 30a of the bars are positioned so that they extend above the bottom flaps of the wrapper on opposite sides of the wrapper and the bars are shaped so that they then cause the bottom flaps to be folded downwardly and then upwardly below the book into closed position.

When the bottom flaps have been brought to their closed position with the book being fully enclosed in the wrapper, the package has been completed except for sealing and the package is then delivered to a tape applying machine as it moves off of the support. The tape machine is of conventional construction and hence need not be described in detail. The second set of lugs disengage from the rear end of the package as the package enters the tape applying machine and a length of tape 31 is applied lengthwise of the wrapper over the adjoining edges of the bottom flaps and around the ends of the wrapper to complete the package which, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is now in condition to be shipped without further handling by deposit in the mail or the like.

As shown best in FIGS. A, 5B, 6A and 6B, an elongated frame 50 forms a support for various components of the packaging machine.

The frame includes spaced parallel side rails 51 extending lengthwise of the machine and cross bars or rails 52 at its ends with a number of supporting legs 53a-d. Cross members 54, 55, 56, and 57 which are connected to and extend between the side rails at intermediate points are provided to support various parts of the machine as will be described later.

Starting at the left-hand end of the machine as seen in FIGS. 5A and 6A, a first conveyor 60 extends lengthwise of the frame. This conveyor comprises two continuous chain conveyors 61 which extend parallel in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of the center line of the frame.

The conveyor chains are supported at the left hand end of the frame by sprockets 62 carried by a cross shaft 63 extending across and having its ends journalled in the frame. The chains are supported at the other ends of their reaches by sprockets 64 which are carried on a cross shaft 65 which is journalled at its ends in supports carried by the side rails of the frame. The conveyor chains are driven by a chain drive 66 connected to the last mentioned shaft and an electric drive motor 67 (as shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B).

Each of the conveyor chains carries a series of spaced lugs or pusher elements 68 which are adjustable relative to each other along the length of the chain so as to accommodate books or other items of different lengths. The conveyor chains are driven in a clockwise direction with the upper reaches of the chain conveyors extending horizontally in alignment with the side rails of the frame.

A central book supporting member 69 extends lengthwise between the upper reaches of the pair of chain conveyors with one end thereof being attached to the cross member 52 at the left hand end of the frame.

A magazine or hopper 70 containing a supply of books for delivery individually to the conveyor wit-h one side of the book facing the conveyor and the book supporting member is positioned above the conveyor adjacent the left hand end thereof as seen in FIGS. 5A and 6A.

The book magazine or hopper comprises a first pair of upright spaced angle members 71 located at opposite corners of the rear end of the books in the magazine and a second pair of upright spaced angle members 71a located at opposite corners of the front end of the books in the magazine. The flanges of each of the angle members extend along one side and one end of the book in the magazine with the loading opening being at the top.

The first pair of angle members are carried by and extend upwardly from a pair of guide rails 72 which serve to guide the books as the books are delivered to and advanced individually by the conveyor. The rear ends of the guide rails rest on and are supported by the cross member 52 at the end of the frame but are not fastened thereto. However, the first pair of upright angle members are adjustably supported on the guide rails so that they can be moved lengthwise relative to the rails and the second pair of upright angle members to receive books of different lengths.

The second or forward pair of upright angle members are secured to the guide rails, but are adjustably secured to the cross bar 54 extending across the frame. This cross bar is supported by arms 54a in a raised position on the frame to avoid interference with movement of the book. The second pair of angle members and the guide rails to which they are attached may be moved to different positions transversely of the frame so as to receive books of different widths. The adjustment of the guide rails in this manner also results in a corresponding transverse adjustment of the first pair of upright angle members which are carried on the rails.

As shown in FIG. 8, portions of the inwardly extending flanges or sides of the second pair of angle members are cut away at their lower ends to form a gate or opening 81 through which the lowermost book in the magazine can pass when the rear end of the book is engaged by the pushing lugs on the conveyor chains and the book is advanced thereby.

A magazine or hopper 82 containing a supply of the preformed wrappers is positioned on the frame following the book magazine in the path of the book being advanced by the conveyor.

The wrapper magazine or hopper is similarly formed by two pairs of upright angle members 83 and 830 which extend upwardly from a set of wrapper guide rails 84 which serve to guide the wrapper and the book to a position where a folding operation takes place after the ibis/rapper has been placed in its proper position on the V ook.

The rear ends of the wrapper guide rails are inclined upwardly and carry spacers 84w which rest on the cross bar 55 at points outside the book guide rails. The front or second pair of upright angle members for the wrapper magazine are attached at their lower ends to the wrapper guide rails and are adjustably secured to the cross bar 56 so the upright angle members and the wrapper guide rails can be moved transversely of the frame to different positions for books of different widths. The first set of upright angle members of the wrapper magazine are likewise adjustably secured to the wrapper guide rails in such a way that they can be moved to different positions lengthwise of said rails. Thus, wrappers of different dimensions corresponding to the book can be employed. The "inwardly extending flanges at the lower ends of the forward set of angle members are also cut away to form a gate or opening 83b through which the lowermost wrapper can pass when it is engaged by a moving book.

As shown best in FIGS. 710, the downwardly facing wrappers 21 in the magazine are supported by wedges 85 in plane which is downwardly inclined toward their forward or leading ends. The wedges are carried by ends of the book guide rails extending beneath the rear end of the wrapper magazine and support the rear end of the lowermost wrapper in the magazine in a raised or elevated position where it will clear the advancing end of the book as the book passes beneath the wrapper. The wedges are adjustable lengthwise on the book guide rails so that the rear end of the wrapper can be positioned at different heights to permit books of different thicknesses to pass therebeneath. As seen in FIG. 9, the wedges support the wrappers at the side fold spaces between the bumpers and hence do not interfere with removal of the wrappers from the magazine.

The forward ends of the wrappers which are below the level of the rear ends are in a position Where the forward end of an advancing book will engage with the rear end of the bumper at the forward end of the central panel of the wrapper and thus, carry the wrapper with it as it continues to advance.

When the lowermost wrapper is thus removed from the Wrapper magazine by forward movement of the book, the wrapper automatically falls into proper position on the book; i.e., with the book located between the bumpers at opposite ends of the wrapper and in alignment with the center panel of the wrapper.

If desired, a label may be applied at this point to the upper surface of the wrapper by a conventional labeling device 90.

The book and the wrapper continue their forward movement through a second conveyor system 91 with the book engaging pushers on lugs on the first conveyor being simultaneously withdrawn from engagement with the rear end of the book.

The second conveyor system also comprises a pair of continuous chains 92 which are spaced apart and extend lengthwise of the frame at the right-hand end thereof as seen in FIGS. 5B and 6B. The conveyor chains extend over sprockets 93 carried on a shaft 94 which is journalled at one end of a raised portion 95 of the frame and over sprockets 96 carried by a shaft 97 which is journalled at the other end of the raised portion of the frame. The lastmentioned shaft 97 is driven by drive chains 98 and 98a and gearing 99 connected to the electric drive motor 97 and the chains move in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 6B.

The second pair of conveyor chains is supported on the raised portion of the frame with their lower reaches being above the wrapper with the book therein in order to permit the folding of the wrapper during advancing movement of the wrapper and book by the second cohveyor. Pusher lugs 28 carried by the conveyor chains at spaced intervals engage with the rear or trailing end of the wrapper as the pushing elements of the first conveyor move out of engagement with the rear end of the book. The spacing of the pusher lugs on the chains of the second conveyor is also adjustable to accommodate wrappers of different lengths.

During the folding operation, the wrapper and book are supported on a flattened tongue-like blade 101 which is carried by and forms an extension of the central book supporting member 69.

The folding of the wrapper to bring the bottom flaps to their closed position as the wrapper and book are advanced by the second conveyor is accomplished by means of the folding bars 30 in a conventional manner. The ends of the bars are located on opposite sides of the wrapper and above the bottom flaps as the wrapper and book advance. As shown in FIGS. 13-15, the :folding bars are shaped so as to fold the bottom flaps downwardly and then upwardly to a closed position beneath the book. The folding bars are also adjustable transversely of the frame to permit wrappers of different widths to be closed.

When the folding operation is completed, the wrapper with book enclosed therein is delivered to a tape applying machine which applies a length of tape around the ends of the wrapper 102 and along the adjoining ends of the bottom flaps to complete the package. As the wrapper and the book contained therein leave the folding operation and enter the tape applying machine, the end of the tongue-like book supporting member extends through a slot between folded parts of the wrapper and the book permits the book and wrapper to be moved off of the end portion of the tongue-like member as it enters the tape applying machine.

The tape applying machine is of conventional construction and hence need not be described in detail. A hold down device 103 may also be provided if desired at the end of the wrapper magazine.

It will be understood that various modifications and changes in the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a packaging machine, the combination which comprises conveyor means adapted to move articles such as books forwardly in a predetermined path by engagement therewith, a magazine positioned above said conveyor means at a first position in said predetermined path, said magazine containing a supply of articles for sequential delivery of said articles to the conveyor means at said first position, and a second magazine positioned at a second position following said first position in said predetermined path of the conveyor means, said second magazine containing a supply of wrappers for the articles delivered to the conveyor from the first magazine and means associated with said second magazine for supporting the lowermost wrapper therein in an inclined position relative to the conveyor means with the rear end of said lowermost wrapper being spaced from the conveyor means by a distance greater than the thickness of the article being moved forwardly by the conveyor means and with the forward end of said lowermost wrapper being disposed in the path of the forwardly moving article for engagement by said article.

2. In a packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the magazines are formed by upwardly extending members which are adjustable both transversely and lengthwise relative to each other and the conveyor for articles and wrappers of different lengths and widths.

3. In a packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the magazines are formed by upwardly extending members which are adjustable both transversely and lengthwise relative to each other and the conveyor for articles and wrappers of different lengths and widths and the means associated with the second magazine for supporting the lowermost wrapper in an inclined position is adjustable to support said lowermost wrapper in different inclined positions to permit articles of different thickness to pass beneath the rear end of said lowermost wrapper.

4. In a packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 1 which includes an article supporting member extending beneath the first and second magazines in the predetermined path of the conveyor means.

5. In a packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 1 which includes an article supporting member extending beneath the first and second magazines in the predetermined path of the conveyor means and the first and second magazines include guide rails extending forwardly therefrom for receiving and guiding the articles and the wrappers discharge therefrom along said predetermined path.

6. In a packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 1 which includes a second conveyor means located at the end of the predetermined path of the first conveyor means and being adapted to engage with a rear end of a wrapper being advanced by forward movement of an article by the first conveyor.

7. In a packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 6 wherein the first conveyor means is positioned beneath the articles being moved forward thereby and the second conveyor means is positioned above the wrappers and the articles being moved forward thereby.

8. In a packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 1 which includes a second conveyor means located at the end of the predetermined path of the first conveyor means and being adapted to engage with a rear end of a wrapper being advanced by forward movement of an article by the first conveyor, and folding means located along the predetermined path of the second conveyor means for engaging with and folding portions of the wrapper around and to a closed position relative to the article associated with said wrapper.

9. In a packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 1 which includes a second conveyor means located at the end of the predetermined path of the first conveyor means and being adapted to engage with a rear end of a wrapper being advanced by forward movement of an article by the first conveyor, folding means located along the predetermined path of the second conveyor means for engaging with and folding portions of the wrapper around and to a closed position relative to the article associated with said wrapper, and sealing means located at the end of the second conveyor means for receiving the articles and wrappers therefrom and sealing the wrapper in a closed condition.

10. In a packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second conveyor means each comprises a pair of continuous conveyor chains extending lengthwise in spaced parallel relation to each other, pushing lugs adjustably carried on said chains and extending outwardly therefrom and a drive motor having driving connections to conveyor chains of each conveyor means.

11. In a machine for packaging books in preformed mailing wrappers, the combination which comprises, a first magazine containing a supply of books to be packaged, conveyor means located beneath said first magazine for engaging with the moving a lowermost book in said magazine forwardly from said magazine in a predetermined path, a second magazine containing a supply of preformed mailing wrappers for the books in the first magazine, said second magazine being positioned above said conveyor means at a point where the book is being moved forward by the conveyor mans, and means associated with said second magazine for supporting the lowermost wrapper in said magazine in an inclined position relative to the book with the rear end of said lowermost wrapper being elevated to permit passage of the book therebeneath and the front end of said wrapper being in the path of movement of the book whereby the front end of the lowermost wrapper is engaged by a forwardly moving book and is removed from the second magazine by movement of the book relative to the magazine.

12. In a book packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 11 which includes folding arms positioned to engage with the wrapper after removal of the wrapper from the second magazine.

13. In a book packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 11 which includes a second conveyor means for engaging with the wrapper and for moving the wrapper and book forward after removal of the wrapper from the second magazine by engagement with the forwardly moving book.

14. In a book packaging machine, the combination as defined in claim 11 wherein book magazine and the wrapper magazine are formed by upwardly extending spaced angle members and the transverse and longitudinal spacing between said members is adjustable to accommodate books and wrappers of different sizes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1962 Anness et al. 27161 X 1/1965 Peppler et al. 271-61 X 

